Noise pollution associated with urbanisation is an emerging environmental problem in many
developing countries including Ghana. In comparison with other pollutants, the control of environmental noise
has been hampered by insufficient knowledge of its effects on humans and of dose–response relationships, as
well as by a lack of sufficient data. The study set to quantify noise and obtain the perceptions of residents in
selected neighbourhoods in the main commercial area of Cape Coast, Ghana. The focus was on five selected
areas: commercial centres, road junctions/busy roads, passengers loading stations, high-density residential
areas, and low-density residential areas. The range of noise pollution levels, LNP, at high-density residential
areas is 58-68 dB (A), while that of low-density residential areas is 53-72 dB (A). The range of traffic noise
index TNI at high-density residential areas is 34-107 dB (A), and that of low density residential areas is 27-65
dB (A). There is a wide disparity in the noise level exposure by the residents in high-density residential areas
and that of low-density residential areas. At 90% confidence level, the Mean Square Ratio (MSR) calculated
for LNP is 65.02, while the tabulated value is 2.36. Similarly, at the same confidence level, the MSR calculated
for TNI is 6.23 and the tabulated value remains as 2.36. Since, in the two cases, the calculated MSR is greater
than the tabulated value, there is a significant difference (p<0.05) in the noise pollution level and TNI in the
locations surveyed based on the data analyzed at 90% confidence level. About 82.1% of the respondents
complained that the noise from the audio music shops and traffic is a nuisance. Noise levels at all the 10
measurement points exceeded the Ghana EPA recommended upper limit by values of 1-15 dB (A). This makes
it imperative for the regulatory authority to enforce compliance on noise.

Paul K. Essandoh and Frederick Ato Armah, 2011. Determination of Ambient Noise Levels in the Main Commercial Area of Cape Coast, Ghana.
Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 3(6): 637-644.